Shoe press



May 20, 1952 w. Bosl-:LEY ErAL SHOE PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 3, 1950 May 20, l952 w. BosELEY ETAL 2,597,612

sHoE PRESS FiledJan. s, 195o 's sheets-sheet 2 2,? glil: 762

May 20, 1952 w. BosELEY ETA; 2,597,612

SHOE PREss Filed Jan. 5, 1950 5 SheelZS-Sheell 5 /N VENTO/@5 @y M65 M@ Patented May 2o, 1,952

sHoE PRESS l William Boseley and Wallace Klmister, Wembley, England Application January 3, 1950, Serial No. 136,624 In Great Britain January 4,1949

This invention relates to a machine for sticking soles, particularly leather soles, to boots and shoes and comprises an improved machine adapted to support a boot or shoe in an inverted position so that its sole is readily accessible, and designed to stick a sole firmly to the shoe, particularly at its edges, to preserve the desirable arched contour of the boot or shoe bottom, and to prevent distortion by upward or downward bending of the edge of the sole when pressure is applied for sticking the sole to the boot or shoe. Y

A machine according to the invention com prises a base adapted to support a boot or shoe so that its sole faces upwards. and a press member adapted to press a sole onto the boot or shoe, and has right-hand and left-hand retractable supporting devices, which have tongues adapted to project into the space between the upper of the boot or shoe and the projecting edge of the sole, and which are slidably mounted on the base at opposite sides of the boot or shoe, so that they can be adjusted to positions in which the tongues engage the boot or shoe and provide a rigid support for the edges of the sole against the pressure of the press member.

For use in soling boots and shoes of a number of different shapes and sizes, the machine is provided with groups of fingers instead of plates, each group being composed of contiguous parallel-sided individually adjustable lingers formed with inwardly projecting tongues which co-operate to form a continuous support for the welt or edge of the sole. This construction enables the machine to be readily adjusted to suit a range of different sizes of boots or shoes.

The invention includes an improved press member for pressing the sole onto the shoe which is adapted to exert pressure on the middle of the sole at rst, but which yields at its middle part so that the pressure spreads outwards as the load increases, and so that the nal pressure applied is greater at the edges of the sole than at the middle parts thereof.

Other features of the invention will appear from the following more detailed description of one example of a machine constructed according to the invention reference being made to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine, the left-hand side of the machine being shown with its press member and operating mechanism removed, and the right-hand side being shown with the press-'operating lever pulled down and with the sole-edge supporting devices removed,

4 claims. (c1. 12-3s.4)

Figure 3 is a plan view of a complete set of devices for supporting the projecting edges of the sole of one boot or shoe,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 3,

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on the lines V-V, VI-VI, VII--VII and VIII-VIII, Fig. 3 and illustrating the shapes of the tongues formed on certain of the lingers shown in Figure 3,

Figures 9 and 10 are side-elevational and plan views respectively of a retractible finger used in the mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,

Figures 11 and l2 are views similar to Figures 9 and 10 of an adjacent iinger having cam surfaces adapted to co-operate with corresponding cam surfaces on the finger shown in Figures 9 and l0. I

Figure 13 is a side elevation of a pressure pad,

and

Figure 14 is an end view of the pressure pad.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises a double base-frame l carrying two complete sets of mechanism, one of which is adapted for soling the left boot or shoe of a pair, whilst the other is adapted for soling the right boot or shoe. Each half of the machine is thus complete in itself, and it will be necessary to describe only one of them. Parts of the right-hand half of the machine shoWn in Figure 2 are marked with the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of the left-hand half of the machine, but are distinguished by the sufx, a.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, each half ofthe main frame or base I of the machine is of box-like shape, open at the top, and contains an adjustable heel-support 2 and an adjustable toesupport 3 adapted to support a lasted boot or shoe so that its sole faces upwards and projects somewhat above the sides 5 of the base or frame.

For additionally supporting the boot or shoe, the machine is provided with a right-hand group of ngers 6 and a left-hand group of lingers 1 supported on the sides 5 of the base or frame l in such a way that they are horizontally slidable towards and away from the boot or shoe. Each of the groups 6 and 1 is composed of a number of contiguous parallel-sided individually slidable fingers formed with inwardly projecting tongues 8 'which co-operate to form a substantially continuous support for the welt or edge of the sole.v These ngers are individually adjustable inwards and outwards to adapt the machine to suit a range of dierent sizes of boots or shoes with the same fingers. Moreover, the groups of fingers are interchangeable with different groups to suit further ranges of size or shape outside the range of adjustment of a single group of fingers. For example, one group of fingers may be designed to suit a range of mens sizes and another group may be designed to suit a range of womens sizes. To enable womens shoes of different styles involving considerable variation of profile, two or more sets of fingers for different range of womens boots or shoes may be required. The

fingers on each side of the machine have flat undersurfaces 9 adapted to bear against a flat supporting surface I provided for them on the side wall of the frame or base ofthe machine;

and they are held together by a carrier-bar-I-I i formed with a longitudinal slot l2 into which the fingers fit slidably, the carrier bar being received by a locating groove I3 provided for it i'ntheside wall 5 of the frame or base of the machine.

carrier-bar carries a clamping-screw I4 at one end by which the fingers can be clampedagainst the'pposite end I5 of theslot I2 and thus held fast after they have been adjusted.

To give adequate support for the projecting edge of the sole at the tip of the tee, it has been found advantageous to provide a supporting member additional to the right-hand vand lefthand fingers 6 and 'I described above,thisfadditional member being in the formof a bar IB, which extends across the space between-theside walls 5 of the frame or base-andv makes-sliding contact with the foremost finger of Aeach of the right-hand and left-hand sets. The ends-of this bar, which will be referred to below as atoe-bar, may engage in the ends of the-slots I2 in the carrier-bars II 4described above, or -t'may-be bolted or otherwiserigidly fixed to the -carrier bars. The toe-bar is formed between its-ends with recesses II shaped toreceive the toe-parts of the sole and upper and separated by a straightedge tongue I8 adapted to eng-age between the upper and the'projecting edge of the'sole. The edge of the tongue I8 liesin the same-plane as the face of the toe-barthat is in contact with the foremost fingers of the right-hand and lefthand sets of fingers 6 and 'I. The tongue I8 icooperates with the tongues 8 to form a continuous support for the projecting edge of the soie Il au around the toe of the boot or shoe.

-The machine is providedwith a heel-post I9.

the post 20. The heel and toe supports are thusreadily adjustable for the purpose of adjusting the last so that it co-operates-with the toe-bar I6 and right-hand and left-handv fingers Gand `I to provide arigid support that conforms :tothe curvature 0f the sole as-lasted. Consequently,-

when pressure is applied, as hereinafter described, the'sole will not bedistorted by any upward' or downwardbending of its edges.

For pressing a sole onto the shoe after it has been positioned on the supports` described above,-

the machine is. provided with apress-platef-N carried by an arm 24 attachedto a hing- 25==at the rear of the machine and adaptedtosswing' down into an approximately horizontal position for bringing a pressure pad 26 into-engagement with the sole. The pressure pad 26 consists of a block of hard rubber or similar resilient material, which may be of generally rectangular shape as seen in plan, and which is attached to a back-plate 21 adapted to slide into position on the press-plate 23, the pad 26 being thus readily detachable. The lower surface 23 of the pad is "O'f "curved shape corresponding to the curvature ofi the correctly-lasted sole, but adapted to exert pressure on the middle of the sole at iiifst, the pressure spreading outwards as the load is-increased, thereby expelling air pockets be- 'twen the sole and welt. The upper surface of thezpad h'asfa 'concavity 23 in a region correfspondiig' to the middle area of the sole so that this part of the..pad will yield somewhat as the ipifessue increases, and so that the nal pressure applied 'will be greater at the edges of the sole than-atthe middle parts thereof.

The machine includesa lever-operated mech- 'anismforactuating the arm24 which is capable positionfin-which the pivots of the link 32 are alignedwith vthe fulcrum 3| of the lever 30), justbefore-the arm v24 reaches an approximately horizontalposition,- The press-plate 23 is attached -to-tl`ie-arm 24 by means of an adjusting screw '33 which enables-the pressure attained in the locked position ofthe toggle link to be readily adjusted. zThe`-pressplate 23 engages the adjusting 'screw by a ball or similar joint 34 located over a desired centre of pressure of the pressure pad (corresponding to the centre of the sole) so that the press-plate aligns itself automatically in such'manne'r as to apply pressure substantially evenly all roundthe edges of the sole. The press plate may conveniently be attached to the arm -b'ya pair'ofspring-loaded tie-bolts 35 located onein-frorlt'of and one behind the ball joint 34 and'arranged' toholdthe two 'parts of the joint togetherunder'springpressure One or more tension :springs may 'be arranged to assist the -rearward swingingmovement of the operating lever'f30 by which the press-plate arm is swung upto' lift the pressure-pad clear of the work when the toggle has been broken.

Ithasfbee'n found that in a machine fitted with right-hand and left-hand sets of fingers 6 and'l as described above, it is advantageous to provide one or more particular fingers (marked 3B, 31 and 38 in Figure 2) `so placed that they have-merely to be retracted to allow the remainlng lingers' to be closed together to suit boots or shoes of smaller sizes. The machine can thus be very quiclclyV adjusted to suit boots or shoes of a1 range of 'different Sizes by merely inserting or withdrawing the particular fingers provided for that.. purpose. To enable the fingers 36, 3l andfltobe retracted from their operative posi'- tions-lwithout vbeing'actually removed from the machine, these' fingers and the fingers next to thein may rbeforme'd with ramps and co-operating recesseswhich allow the fingers next to the fingers 36, 37 and 38 to move closer together so that their tongues meet and completely close the gaps left between them when the fingers 36, 31 and 38 are retracted. The arrangement of these ramps and recesses will be understood from Figures 9 to 12 of the drawings; Figures 9 and 104 show the finger 36 and Figures 11 and l2 show the adjacent finger marked 39 in Figure 3. As shown in Figures 9 to 12, the finger 36 is formed at its forward end with a ramp 40 located below the tongue 8 of the finger. It also has a recess lll the rear wall of which forms a ramp 42. The finger 33 has a ramp 43 adapted to co-operate with the ramp 36 and a recess 44 one wall of which forms a ramp 45 adapted to co-operate with the ramp {il} when the finger 36 is retracted, the ramp'40 slides down the ramp 35 and` into the recess 44 and the ramp 43 slides down the ramp 42 and into the recess 3B, thus allowing the fingers marked 39 and 36 in Figure 3 to move closer together and to close the gap left by the withdrawal of the tongue 8 of the finger 36.

It has been found advantageous to extend the locating grooves I3 provided in the side walls 5 of the frame or base so that the carrier-bars Il that carry the right-hand and left-hand plates or fingers 5 and 'i and the toe-bar I6 are freely slidable therein and can thus be adjusted forwards or backwards. The support for the projecting edges of the sole is thus bodily movable forwards or backwards. This enables it to be readily adjusted, after its length has been increased or diminished by the insertion or withdrawal of the fingers, 36, 31 and 38, so that it will register correctly with the curved surface of the pressure pad 26, i. e. so that the convex surface of the sole as supported by the last and by the right-hand and left-hand fingers 6 and 1 fits the corresponding concave surface 28 of the pressure pad 26. The heel support 2 for the last may be a fiat bolt-head or other support that will allow the last to move horizontally so that the final position of the lasted shoe is determined by the position of the fingers 6 and 1, the toe and heel supports serving merely to steady the last and to take part of the pressure applied by the pressure pad 26.

In the use of the machine, the boot or shoe is supported as described and a sole is then stuck onto the shoe by means of a suitable adhesive applied at the edges and adjacent marginal parts of the sole only, leaving the middle area of the sole free of adhesive. Pressure is applied by swinging down the operating lever 3l) until the toggle linkage locks, this pressure being maintained until the adhesive has set sufficiently. The pressure is then released and the pressure pad 26 is moved quickly out of the way by merely swinging the operating lever 38 upwards and backwards.

It will be readily understood that the machine can be adapted for sticking on half-soles or fulllength soles as may be required either for repairing boots or shoes or in the manufacture of new boots or shoes.

The pressure pad 23 may be of greater length and width than the sole, and the same pad may be used for boots and shoes of different sizes that will t its curved surface 28.

The provision of a firm support for the welt or projecting edge of the sole during the process of sticking on a sole in accordance with the invention enables the sole to be firmly secured by the use of adhesive at the edges and adjacent marginal parts of the sole only, leaving the middle area of the sole free of adhesive.' This not only prevents the undesirable stiffening of the sole that would occur if the outside were made adherent to the insole over the whole of itssurface,

ybut preserves the desirable .breathing proper- 1. A machine for sticking soles to boots and.

shoes, comprising supporting means for a lasted boot or shoe, a plurality of contiguous fingers adapted to enter the welt crease of a boot or shoe positioned on said shoe supporting means, and co-operating recesses and ramps formed on adjacent longitudinal surfaces of at least two of said fingers, whereby upon partial retraction of one of said fingers, the other of said fingers can be moved transversely to close the gap between the welt-engaging portions of' the fingers fianking said retracted finger.

2. A machine for sticking soles to boots and shoes, comprising supporting means for a lasted boot or shoe, welt supports comprising two sets of contiguous inwardly directed fingers forming a pair of substantially continuous supports for the right hand and left hand welt edges of the boot or shoe. the fingers of each set being individually adjustable to adapt the welt supports for boots and shoes of different shapes and sizes, and a toebar extending transversely across the machine for engagement at its ends by the right hand and left hand welt supports, a recess in said toebar between its ends to receive the toe of the boot or shoe and a straight edged tongue formed by said recess to engage between the upper and the projecting edge of the welt at the toe of the boot or shoe, the edge of the tongue lying in the same plane as the face of the toe-bar that is in contact with the right hand and left hand welt supports.

3. A machine for sticking soles to boots and shoes, comprising supporting means for a lasted boot or shoe, welt supports comprising two sets of contiguous inwardly directed fingers forming a pair of substantially continuous supports for the right hand and left hand welt edges of the boot or shoe, the fingers of each set being individually adjustable to adapt the welt supports for boots and shoes of different shapes and sizes, a longitudinally slotted carrier bar for each set of fingers which are transversely slidable in the slot of said bar, means for clamping the fingers against one end of said slot, and a supplementary support for the toe part of the boot or shoe welt.

4. A machine for sticking soles to boots and shoes, comprising supporting means for a lasted boot or shoe, welt supports comprising two sets of contiguous inwardly directed ngers forming a pair of substantially continuous supports for 'the right hand and left hand welt edges of the boot or shoe, the fingers of each set being individually adjustable to adapt the welt supports for boots and shoes of different shapes and sizes, a longitudinally slotted carrier bar for each set of fingers which are transversely slidable in the slot of said bar, means for clamping the fingers against one end of said slot, a supplementary support for the toe part of the boot or shoe welt, said supplementary support comprising a toe-bar extending transversely across the machine for 7.? engagementa't' its-sendsfbyfthefrght handv .and i leftzhand welt:.-supponts,faizrecess:in said toeebar betweemits ends tocreceive the .toezof-:thebootvor shoe?,A an straight@A edgedl': tonguei formed by said.l recessfto enigagecbetween:.theuppery and'zthe :projectingizedge-ro the-fsoleat the toefofthepboot onfshoerthedge-:of the'ftongue lying-n the same plane as the face of the toe-bar that isdn-corkv tactf-wbh'i. the e: right uhand and i left hand welt supports; pivotedipressure-applying :2u-m'4 by Whichramressure :partis carried, Vir'lcludngJn'eems y permitting self-alignment of theflatterxdrngzaf, pressing operation, and lever operated toggle mechanism for?,y sadtr arm,1whereby. an greatly increased mechanical,zarclyauvltage` iszacheivedaat l5 a therend ofsadpressinggoperaton:

WILLIAM BQSELEY.

KILMISTER.:

Number REFERENCE-S CITED Thef'fllowingreferences-are of record inv the Ille of'th'is' patent-z UNITED. STATES PrJIEN'FS Name-fr Date 304,415.2 Ep'plenx", Sept. 2, 1884 549,411 Winkleycu) Nov. 4, 1895 627,0355 Wnkley-(2). June 13, 1899 e 667,6741? Bltterfel. Feb. 12, 1901 2,375,346I Card,; Jr.. May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberV Country Date 13,'Z6Gl. GreatBritain of 1913 24,667-, Great,Britain of 1893 98,349. SWeden,- 1 July 30, 1940 291,155 Germany, Apr. 4, 1916 690,782J Francen June 24, 1930 

